| Adopting from Mongolia
Last updated 15 September 2006 http://www.lotuschild.org/ This just in from FIRE: We have raised the funds to ship 2 40-foot containers. One container is full of winter clothing, including 12,000 hand knit items donated from around the world. The second container is full of 6000 library books and medical supplies valued at over $237,000, donated by Flagstaff Medical Center and World Care of Tucson. Now it is time to plan for the Distribution Trip. This is divided into 2 areas. Clothing Volunteers: We need 6+ volunteers to help hand deliver 8 tons of clothing. We work closely with established care centers, social workers and aid organizations to locate the poorest people we can find. A typical day will involve riding around in a van full of boxes going house to house handing items to families. We also go to some care centers where the residents are waiting for us. Any volunteers with an education background can aid in the distribution of the books and the set up of reading rooms. Medical Volunteers: we need 2+ medical volunteers to work with hospitals and care centers to distribute supplies and do bedside training. This trip will have an emphasis on physical therapy and after and general care. We specifically need Physical Therapists, Nurses, General, Emergency and Family doctors. But anyone is welcome. Volunteers are needed October 27 - November 11. The trip will cost about $2300 - $2500. All costs are tax deductible. Volunteers will spend one week in one of 2 cities. The second week will be in one of 2 rural locations. The average temperature in Mongolia at this time of year will be between 10 and 30 degrees F. It will be very cold and the volunteers spend a lot of time outside. Its uncomfortable, but amazingly rewarding. This trip is best suited for those with an adventurous spirit who work well in teams as well as on their own. The days are long, cold and emotionally draining. At the same time they open your eyes and warm your heart in the most touching way. We do have fun. No whiners please! For more information please e-mail F.I.R.E. at fire@fireprojects.org For a sampling of what the trip entails, you can view a 5 minute preview of "One Steppe at a Time", our documentary about the 2005 distribution trip, at the link below. http://www.channelg.tv/video.php?project_id=44 Meredith Executive Director , Flagstaff International Relief Effort (F.I.R.E.) 107 N. San Francisco St., Suite 4 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 USA If you look at nothing else - look at this one. Flagstaff International Relief Effort (http://www.fireprojects.org/about.htm) is currently collecting clothing for their 2005 trip. "We have packed over half of the 1200 boxes needed, with another 150 boxes waiting to be packed. Our target ship date is July 15, with the distribution taking place in September." They are collecting warm knitted hats, sweater, and fleece blankest. The webpage has links. Really worth a look. And if you are feeling really motivated - Download Dulaan Project instruction flyers for yourself and your friends! Other Ways to Help Donate Money: Low overhead insures that donations go directly toward the costs of packing and shipping clothing (via sea container), and costs associated with clothing delivery in Mongolia. more... • Donate Items: New or used clothing (blankets, coats, sweaters, hats), crutches and medical supplies can be sent or delivered to F.I.R.E. more... • Donate a Gift: Make a gift contribution of $100 or more in the name of a family member or friend. We will send a card with an image from Mongolia notifying them of the donation. • Donate Time: Volunteer to sponsor a clothing drive; sort and pack clothing; help pick up clothing in Flagstaf; help with logistics in Flagstaff and remotely; knit items; sew items. • Donate to the Sue Bennett Memorial Scholarship: Pays for a round-trip airfare to Ulan Bataar and expenses for one high school student. • Donate to the University Scholarship Fund: In collaboration with the Zorig Foundation, we match funders with exceptional students that are unable to afford a college education. more... • Participate in the Dulaan Project: Knitting to warm Mongolia. A cooperative effort with Mossy Cottage Knits and the Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) Buddhist community of Sedona. Knit sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and neck gaiters for distribution on our next trip. more... • Make Fleece Blankets: We have several simple sewing and non-sewing options. These blankets were tremendously loved on our 2004 distribution trip. • Participate in Medical Training in Mongolia: We are looking for adventurous doctors, nurses and medical staff who are qualified and comfortable teaching various techniques to medical staff in povert striken, under funded and under supplied hospitals and clinics. • Teach English: We are still looking for funding for this program. We hope to be able to place English teachers in rural communities throughout Mongolia very soon. • Purchase Mongolian Goods: We have a variety of Mongolian bags, rugs and wall hangings. These were brought back from our 2004 trip. We also have a traditional Kazakh ger. All proceeds go directly to F.I.R.E. Agencies Adoption Ark - http://www.adoptionark.com Focus on Children - http://www.focusonchildren.com/Programs/mongolia.html Lutheran Adoption Network - http://www.lanadopt.org/mongolia.htm Lutheran Social Services - http://www.lssadopt.org/ Holt - http://www.holtintl.org/mongolia Our Children’s Homestead - http://www.ourchildrenshomestead.org/adoption.asp Small World Adoption - http://www.swa.net/mongolia.asp Adoption Groups Mongolian Adoptions - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MongolianAdoptions/ Mongolian Adoption Research - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MongolianAdoptionResearch Adoption Links Adoption Forums - http://forums.adoption.com/t152441.html Adoption Process Note: the State Dept webpage isn’t very helpful. I found the following info from the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia (http://www.us-mongolia.com/home/index.shtml) To Adopting Parents and Adoption Agencies: Please note that all immigrant visa cases involving Mongolian orphans for adoption will be processed by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea beginning April 1, 2003. The Department of State is implementing this change for the convenience of the adopting American parents. Direct flights are available from Ulan Bator to Seoul making the trip to the visa unit much easier. The contact information for the Immigrant Visa Unit in Seoul is: U.S. Embassy Seoul, Immigrant Visas, 32 Sejong-ro, Jongro-ku Seoul 110-710 Korea, 822-397-4501 Fax [International] 02-397-4501 Fax [within Korea] From Adoptions from the Heart (http://www.adoptionsfromtheheart.org) Mongolia is located in Northern Asia between China and Russia. The children that are eligible for international adoption are of Mongol and Asian descent. Most children are 2 years of age and older and live in orphanages. Both boys and girls are available. Mongolia Adoption Program Requirements: Married couples with or without children may apply. Couples must be married at least five years. Single women may also apply. Adoptive parents must both be under 60 years of age. A video, pictures and a thorough medical report are sent to the adoptive family for their approval and acceptance. Extensive lab tests are done for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and other conditions. Families can receive information on their matched child and have time to make a decision as to whether or not to accept the match. The in-country fees for adopting a second child at the same time (related or unrelated) are half that of the first child. Travel - Stay in Mongolia is 3-4 days and 2-4 days in Seoul, Korea to get the child's visa. Approximately 3 months from the time the dossier is received in country the family can travel. Charitable Advanced Training Institute Intl - http://ati.iblp.org/atii/students/opportunities/mongolia/ Asral Charity - http://www.jampaling.org/mongolia.html Children of Mongolia - http://www.adopte.ch/francais/aides.htm Christina Noble Children's Foundation - http://www.cncf.org/mongolia/aboutmongolia.asp Danish Mongolian Training Center - http://www.owc.org.mn/damost/eng/ Flagstaff Intl Relief Effort (in Mongolia) - http://www.fireprojects.org/about.htm Global Cross Road - http://www.globalcrossroad.com/mongolia/orphanage.php Intl Guardian Angels Outreach (Mongolia) -http://www.igao.org/ Intl Volunteer Network for Mongolian Orphans - http://www.yoihana.com/mongol/prospective_e.html King Care (sponsor an orphan in Mongolia) - http://www.kingscare.org/Mongolia.htm Maitreya Charity - http://www.maitreyacharity.org/ Mongolian World Vision (has lots of info on street children) - http://mongolia.worldvision.org.nz/ Peace Winds Japan - http://peace-winds.org/en/2_3.html Save the Children - http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk/... Verbist Children's Care Center - http://www.geocities.com/yamataro670/verbistcarecenter.htm World Vision Mongolia - http://www.wvi.org/wvi/country_profile/profiles/mongolia.htm Country Info Country Watch - http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vcountry=118 CIA Fact Book - http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mg.html Government Links Consular Information Sheet - http://travel.state.gov/travel/mongolia.html Embassy of Mongolia (Washington DC) http://www.mongolianembassy.us/ US Embassy in Mongolia - http://www.us-mongolia.com/home/index.shtml US Embassy in Seoul, South Korea - http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/ Links of Interest Article "Change the World Ministries Constructs Orphanage" - http://www.monolithicdome.com/gallery/non-profit/mongolia/index.html AsiaWeek.com (article about Mongolian orphans) - http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/98/1127/feat5.html E-Mongolia.com (tons and tons of great links) - http://www.e-mongol.com/mongolia_links.htm Mika Goes (trip to Russia, Mongolia and China) - http://mikap.iki.fi/trans-siberian/ Monastaries and Temples in Mongolia - http://mongoluls.net/khiid/amar.shtml Mongolian Recipes - http://asiarecipe.com/mongolia.html Mongolian Culture - http://www.mongolianculture.com/ Mongolian Cave Art - http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/destech/design/cybergallery/caveart/index.htm Volunteer Abroad (lists volunteer positions in Mongolia, including orphanages and teaching) - http://www.volunteerabroad.com/Mongolia.cfm Weeping Camel – http://www.nationalgeographic.com/weepingcamel/ News EurasiaNet (News, arts, culture links, etc) - http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/mongolia/index.shtml Mongolian National News Agency - http:/www.mol.mn/montsame Mongolia News.com - http://www.mongolianews.com/ Mongol Messenger - http://www.mongolnet.mn/mglmsg/ The UB Post - http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/ Ulaanbaatar Net - http://ulaanbaatar.net World Switch - http://www.worldswitch.com/Countries/Mongolia/ Orphanages Amgalan state-run shelter for orphans and neglected children in Ulaan Bator - http://www.ecchk.org/outreach/outreach-orphans.htm Baotou Orphanage Chifeng Orphanage Huhehaote Orphanage Lotus Center - http://www.new-millennium-ride.org/LClotusctr.html Lotus Children's Center - http://www.lotuschild.org/index.php Lotus Children's Center Photos - http://groups.msn.com/LisaHerbandPeterZahler/thelotuschildrenscenter.msnw Our Children's Home - http://www.harborevangelism.com/childrenscenter.html SOS Children’s Villages - http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/html/mongolia_select_village.html Sunshine Ger Village Project (shelter for street kids/orphans) - http://www.cncf.org/mongolia/projects.asp#sunshine Tongliao Orphanage Photos Krohn.org (some great pictures) - http://www.krohn.org/links2/pages/Mongolia/ Travel Images of Mongolia - http://www.travel-images.com/mongolia.html Sponsor an Orphan Christina Noble Charitable Foundation - http://www.cncf.org/mongolia/projects.asp#sponsorship Volunteer in Mongolia Involvement Volunteer in Mongolia - http://www.volunteering.org.au/mongolia_pics.html Weather Weather - http://www.wunderground.com/global/MO.html Time and Date (Ulaan Baatar) - http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=720 Comments, suggestions - e-mail me (mgummere @ yahoo.com) 4/15/06 |
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